Meanwhile, evening time was slowly approaching and the sky outside had already begun turning orange. The tiny lane was still lively but compared to afternoon, the number of people had reduced slightly. Even then, both inside and outside the stall remained busy. All the meals prepared earlier were almost sold out again. The aroma of braised pork, rice and steamed buns mixed together heavily inside the air. The sounds of chopsticks knocking bowls and customers talking happily could be seen and heard inside the stall. Even Zhao Qingling kept moving up and down carrying dishes. All the meals had been sold.
Ever since afternoon, Zheng Shanshan had only eaten the noodles shen Anran prepared in the afternoon. Since then, there was not even a single time for the workers to rest. She even had to give up her seat for customers. She wondered what was so special about their food that everywhere was filled up like this. She truly could not understand it. The smell inside the stall also became too overwhelming for her. Everywhere smelled of food. Meat. Soup. Soy sauce. Soy milk. Even her stomach kept reacting again and again. Finally, she quietly escaped outside into the lane. The evening fresh air immediately hit her face as she leaned against the wall and breathed out lightly. Her eyes were even slightly red as if she was bullied but in truth, the delicious aromas she perceived but couldn't eat, made her eyes red. Some passerbys looked at her weirdly and entered the opposite stall. She noticed now that there were two stalls. She was so absorbed in her delicate act in the morning that she failed to notice the opposite stall. Filled with curiosity, she was about crossing over to take a look, when Liu Meilan suddenly stepped outside and called her, "Shanshan!" Zheng Shanshan stiffened slightly before turning back.
Inside the stall, customers still filled everywhere. Even Liu meilan had on, an annoyed expression. Could it be they were looking for her? She wondered. At this thought, she smiled in her heart and then proceeded to act pitifully to Liu Meilan, "auntie, I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice slightly shaking, "it's just that, the stall is full and there's nowhere for me to sit and you were so busy I didn't want to disturb you." She cried almost loudly that both Shen Anran and Zhao Qingling rolled their eyes, "I really couldn't stand the aroma of the food anymore, so I stepped out for relief." Zheng Shanshan continued acting pitifully. She cried so loudly that even the customers inside the stall began turning to look at her.
Some customers looked confused. Others looked awkward. No one scolded her but she was crying this way, if she was scolded, what would she do? Still, Zheng Shanshan continued sniffing lightly. The customers looked at her strangely before shaking their heads and continuing their meals. But Zheng Shanshan mistook those looks for pity and concern.
Meanwhile Liu Meilan's face darkened more and more the longer she listened. At first she truly thought something happened to Zheng Shanshan outside but hearing the words she said annoyed her. First, this girl made it seem like they were bullying her by not giving her a place to sit. Secondly, she also hinted at the fact that they didn't even give her food thus she couldn't bear the delicious aroma of the foods being served and went outside. Liu Meilan was angry and disappointed. She had preserved a portion for this girl to eat only for them not to see her. She became worried and tensed up that even Shen Anran scolded her and told her to search outside. She came out just in time to see Zheng Shanshan almost going somewhere, she called her back and the rest till now is history.
"You are hungry and couldn't ask for food?" Liu Meilan asked angrily. "Is your mouth sealed? Why are you acting pitifully here? Did you know how worried I was when I didn't see you in the stall? A customer took your seat, are you a stranger to Anran'er that you can't meet her and ask her for a stool? I'm so disappointed in you," with all being said, Liu Meilan left her standing and went to the kitchen to further vent her frustration on the pots and plates.
Shen Anran laughed quietly at the drama.
She felt Zheng Shanshan truly liked digging pits for herself. This girl originally wanted Liu Meilan's pity but instead angered her completely. Still she ordered Zhao Qingling to bring Zheng Shanshan to the back of the work station to eat. Even Zhao qingling didn't like Zheng Shanshan either. She felt the girl was too fake and dramatic yet she politely met her to quietly pass out the message, "Sister Zheng, come eat."
Zheng Shanshan bit her lips lightly. After getting scolded publicly like this, she felt extremely embarrassed. Everything that happened didn't follow the intended effect. She had wanted Liu Meilan to feel sorry for her and indulge her yet she didn't realize she would end up offending her. Still, she quietly followed Zhao Qingling toward the back of the workstation to avoid the staring eyes.
Immediately she left the customers began whispering among themselves, "who is she?" "Did you see the smile before she began crying?" "What a character!" "The food is very delicious if not I would have already been too disgusted by that act." "Haha, maybe she's a family member who likes to be served." When this was said, the people who say at the table laughed and others also laughed as they came to various conclusions.
Zheng Shanshan sulkily ate her food, after all she was hungry and also the food was delicious.
After the daily sales, Liu Meilan and Shen Anran went over the sales record and closed the account. They now had a new hand and they unanimously agreed that they will raise their prices of food by fifteen cents each from tomorrow. Business was already stable now.
Meanwhile Zhao Qingling was given a dish of braised pork with rice before leaving. She thanked both mother and daughter repeatedly before quickly washing up and preparing to head home. Afterwards, Shen Anran, Liu Meilan and Zheng Shanshan also slowly closed the stall for the day, preparing to go home.